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Cocaine is an illegal stimulant drug that makes you feel energetic and euphoric for a short time. Unfortunately, it can also cause unpleasant side effects, potentially lethal health problems, and addiction.[1] Even though the effects of cocaine only last for about 20 or 30 minutes, it can stay in your body for much longer. You’ve found yourself needing to clear cocaine from your system, and that’s alright—it’s better now than never. If you have a drug test coming up, or just want to rid your body of cocaine, start by abstaining from cocaine completely—then wait it out, stay hydrated, and maintain healthy habits. If you are considering less scientific techniques, understand that the effectiveness may be limited and you do so at your own risk.
Steps
Clearing Your System Naturally
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1Stop using cocaine immediately. If you need to get your system clear of cocaine, stop using the drug right away. One-time users will have cocaine in their urine for at least 4-8 hours afterwards, but cocaine can still be detected for up to 4 days even after a single use.[2] However, habitual users can show up positive on a drug test for up to a month.[3] The sooner you stop using, the sooner you’ll be clean.
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2Anticipate the “comedown.” Anyone who uses cocaine will likely have a comedown or “crash” after the initial effects of the drug wear off. This is your body rebalancing itself in terms of energy and mood. Expect to be tired and potentially depressed for a short time, even up to 2-3 days.[4]
- The cocaine crash is not the same thing as withdrawal, though there are some overlapping symptoms.
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3Prepare for withdrawal symptoms. If you’ve been using cocaine regularly, you will probably experience symptoms of withdrawal when you remove it from your life. Tell yourself ahead of time that you will get through it, and prepare yourself mentally to experience any of the following:[5]
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4Go into a detox program. If you’ve been using cocaine for a long time or using it often, you may need to go through medically-supervised detoxification. There’s no drug that can remove cocaine from your system, but a medical professional can help you through withdrawal by giving you medications to counteract the withdrawal symptoms. If you need help, look online for a detox center near you.[6]
- Depending on your symptoms and how heavily you used cocaine, a detox program can last from 3 days to over a week. An inpatient rehabilitation program can last around 30 days.
- Outpatient detox can cost you between $1,000-1,500, whereas a full rehab program can cost up to $20,000.
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5Wait. There’s no great way to flush your system of cocaine and its metabolites (what your body turns it into), so you may just have to wait it out. If so, know that how long cocaine takes to leave your system depends upon a number of different factors:[7]
- How much you used: More cocaine takes longer to leave.
- How often you use it: The more often you use, the longer it lasts in your body.
- What was mixed with the cocaine, i.e. how pure it was: Purer cocaine leaves more drug in your body.
- If you were also drinking alcohol: Alcohol slows down elimination of the drug at first, keeping it in your body longer.
- How well your liver and kidneys function. If you have liver or kidney problems, your body won’t clear cocaine as effectively as in a healthy person.
- Your weight: Cocaine sticks around longer in heavier individuals.
Assisting and Hastening Your Detox
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1Drink lots of water. Drink lots of fluids like water, juice, or tea – preferably water. This can help to flush the metabolites of cocaine out of your system more quickly. The effect of this is temporary, so you have to stay very well hydrated for the amount of time cocaine would be in your system.
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2Exercise. If you’re generally healthy and active, your body may clear cocaine faster than someone overweight or sedentary. Be active and exercise daily while trying to clear your system of cocaine.[8] Do some aerobic exercises to get your blood pumping, like swimming, running, biking, or playing a sport.
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3Eat a healthy diet. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in every meal while you’re detoxing. Eating healthy will help your metabolism, and may possibly aid in excreting cocaine and its metabolites more quickly.[9]
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4Don’t drink alcohol. Abstain from alcohol while your body is getting rid of cocaine. Just like how it takes longer to clear cocaine if you were drinking simultaneously, drinking alcohol after the fact may also slow the elimination process.[10]
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5Take a zinc supplement. Zinc is sometimes considered a mineral that will help your body cleanse itself, though whether it works to clear cocaine from your system is not scientifically proven. Check with your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to take a zinc supplement. If so, take one daily at the recommended daily dose (8mg for adult women and 11mg for adult men).[11]
- Don’t overdo it in an attempt to clear cocaine from your system – toxicity from too much zinc can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches.
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6Buy a detox product online. The internet is teeming with pills, powders, and beverages claiming to rid your body of cocaine – whether permanently or just for a few hours so you can pass a drug test. Many of these products claim to be natural, but because they are not supervised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this may or may not be true. In reality, these kits and products have not been proven to remove cocaine from your system, and they can be quite expensive. If you choose to use one, it’s at your own risk.
- Know that any product you use can interact with medications you take or medical conditions you have. It’s best not to take untested products from the internet.
Warnings
- Cocaine is an illegal substance with no medical benefits. Using cocaine can cause serious health problems or even death from cardiac events, especially if mixed with alcohol.[12]⧼thumbs_response⧽
- NEVER use cocaine if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. It can seriously impact the health of your baby.[13]⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Using cocaine can cause or worsen anxiety and cause big swings in blood sugar for diabetics.[14]⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.beachhouserehabcenter.com/learning-center/cocaine-detox-7-things-you-need-to-know/
- ↑ http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/9286
- ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/813959-workup
- ↑ https://www.discoveryplace.info/cocaine-withdrawal-symptoms-and-tips
- ↑ https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-toc~drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-3~drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-3-7~drugtreat-pubs-modpsy-3-7-cws
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000947.htm
- ↑ https://peaksrecovery.com/blog/other-substances/cocaine-withdrawal-timeline/
- ↑ https://www.addictionhelper.com/drugs/cocaine/withdrawal-detox/
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002149.htm
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000947.htm
- ↑ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/
- ↑ https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/effects-on-the-body/alcohol-and-illegal-drugs/
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/08/science/breast-milk-can-transfer-cocaine-study-says.html
- ↑ http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/causes/cocaine
About This Article
To clean your system of cocaine, first stop using the drug immediately, since it can be detected in your system up to 4 days after first-time usage. You should also try to prepare yourself mentally for common withdrawal symptoms that you may experience, such as nausea, vomiting, cravings, or depression. As soon as you stop taking the drug, drink plenty of water, tea, and juice, because staying hydrated can help remove the metabolites, which is what your body turns cocaine into. Additionally, try to include fresh fruit and vegetables in every meal you eat, which will help your body flush the drug from your system. If you were a habitual cocaine user, consider signing up to a medical detoxification program, where you can receive medical care to help manage your symptoms. For tips on how to purchase the right detox products online, read on!
